Together With

Good Morning, North Fork! It’s Monday, if the coffee is doing heavy lifting today, we support it.

In today’s North Fork Buzz:

• Greenport’s Grant Gridlock

• Spring Clean Up Rules

• The $500K Collection

Ready, Set, Go!

Sponsored By Little Fish

Coastal Cuisine Done Right 🐟

Little Fish Is Back 🍽

If you needed a sign that winter’s officially over, this is it: Little Fish reopens this Friday, April 3. The birds are doing their thing, the peepers are getting louder, and down at Kenney’s Beach, the lights are coming back on.

Opening weekend brings back exactly what you’ve been missing: coastal dishes that feel like the first real bite of the season. Tuna Taquitos, Hot Honey Jerk Ribs, and that Charred Lemon Caesar with croissant croutons that tends to steal the show.

They’ll be easing into April with dinner Friday through Monday (5–9 PM), plus live music to get things started the right way.

And yes, Easter is covered.

Easter Sunday Brunch (10 AM – 3 PM) is back, which means a full table, something great in your glass, and zero stress about cooking.

As they say, it’s so close you can taste it.

Reservations are strongly recommended and tend to go fast, so plan accordingly via Resy or by calling (631) 765-8756.

Easter Brunch Menu | Dinner Menu | Make a Reservation

The Lowdown

Greenport’s Grant Gridlock 💰

Tensions boiled over at Village Hall this week as residents and trustees pressed Mayor Kevin Stuessi over stalled projects and millions in unclaimed funding.

At the center of it all: more than $4 million in grants tied to Mitchell Park bulkhead repairs and the long discussed ice rink, money that still hasn’t been secured nearly a year after being awarded.

Frustrated residents didn’t hold back. One called the situation “embarrassing” and “outrageous,” demanding transparency and answers after months of little visible progress.

The mayor pointed to weather delays and the complexity of the bulkhead project, saying work is ready to begin and a special meeting is coming soon with updates.

Trustees, however, painted a different picture, saying paperwork needed to access the funds still hasn’t been completed and that key projects have stalled for years, not months.

The lack of a village administrator since early 2024 has only added to the backlog, with multiple officials saying it’s slowed progress across the board.

Get the full story 👉 North Fork Sun

Spring Clean Up Rules 🍂

Southold Town’s annual spring cleanup is set for Monday, April 13, and yes, there are rules.

Residents are asked to bag brush and leaves in biodegradable paper bags before putting them out. Crews will start in Orient Point and work west toward Laurel, picking up only properly bagged yard waste.

Loose piles, mixed debris, bamboo, and invasive species? Not getting picked up.

Miss your day? There’s a backup plan. Residents can drop off bagged brush and leaves at the Cutchogue compost facility for free from April 13 through May 11, as long as it’s residential and under one ton. Invasive species still don’t make the cut. ($)

Get the full story 👉 Suffolk Times

The $500K Collection 🍾

At home in Mattituck, the man behind Love Lane’s Village Cheese Shop has something unexpected lining his walls: one of the most valuable antique bottle collections in the world.

Michael Affatato has spent more than two decades building what’s now considered the largest documented collection of antique English wine bottles, valued at over $500,000.

These aren’t just old bottles. Many date back to the 1600s, with hand-blown shapes, dark glass, and wax-sealed crests marking the original owners, often people of serious wealth or status. One bottle in his collection dates to 1677 and is believed to be the oldest known sealed English wine bottle still in existence.

Affatato has tracked down pieces from collectors across the globe, sometimes hopping on a plane to personally retrieve them rather than risk shipping.

Get the full story 👉 Northforker

Stroke Center Designation 🏨

A major shift in emergency care just landed in Greenport, and it changes where stroke patients can go when every minute counts.

Stony Brook Eastern Long Island Hospital has officially earned Primary Stroke Center designation from the Joint Commission, meaning EMS can now bring stroke patients directly to the hospital for immediate treatment.

Getting here took more than two years of upgrades. The hospital added a second CT scanner for around-the-clock imaging, rolled out a 24/7 TeleStroke program connecting patients with neurologists at Stony Brook, and built out rapid response protocols to meet national standards.

Get the full story 👉 East End Beacon

^{_{Stories with a ($) require a third party subscription}}

Happenings: This Week

Monday

🩸 Blood Drive Some things make a real difference, this is one of them. Stony Brook Eastern Long Island Hospital is hosting a blood drive, inviting the community to step up in a simple but powerful way. Every donation helps ensure patients across the North Fork and East End have access to the care they need when it matters most. More Info

🏠 Affordable Community Housing Solutions Housing can feel like its own foreign language, and this program aims to translate. Hosted by the Mattituck-Laurel Civic Association, the session walks through affordable housing, workforce housing, accessory apartments, and the Community Housing Fund, giving residents a clearer picture of what all those terms actually mean. More Info

🤝 Networking Dinner The North Fork Chamber of Commerce is hosting its next networking meeting at Legends, featuring guest speaker Elder Law attorney Emily Franchina. She’ll be diving into estate planning, one of those “I’ll get to it later” topics that quietly becomes very important. Enjoy practical, no-nonsense insights on how to get your affairs in order, protect your assets, and make things significantly easier for your family down the line. More Info

Wednesday

🦪 Shellfish Restoration Oysters are doing more heavy lifting than they get credit for, and this talk pulls back the curtain. Join Kate Rossi-Snook, CCE Aquaculture Specialist and Stewardship Site Manager, for a closer look at the Marine Program’s ongoing shellfish restoration efforts. She’ll cover the real world challenges of rebuilding shellfish populations in a changing climate, along with the progress that’s already been made beneath the surface. More Info

Thursday

📄 Estate Planning Join attorney Kathleen Rose at the Mattituck-Laurel Library, for a practical, easy to follow seminar on estate planning essentials. She’ll walk through wills, trusts, health care proxies, and powers of attorney, plus how Medicaid planning fits into long-term care and what actually happens during estate administration. More Info

🎤 Open Mic Night Before the summer crowds roll in, here’s your chance to grab the mic. The Halyard Piano Bar hosts a curated open mic led by Greg McMullen. Bringing together poets, musicians, and writers it’s intimate, a little brave, and the kind of night where you might hear someone’s next big thing before anyone else does. More Info

^{_{Nothing in this section is sponsored. They’re just fun things you need to know. I’ll always let you know when something is sponsored}}

Extra Honey

Move with Strength. Age with Confidence. Feel the Difference

Dr. Marilyn A. LoPresti, Ph.D is a highly respected Master Instructor specializing in Authentic Tai Chi, Authentic Medical Qigong Meditation, and functional fitness for aging adults. With decades of experience and international recognition, her unique program blends movement, breathwork, and mindful training to support total mind-body wellness.

Her classes are designed to improve balance, increase flexibility, strengthen the body, and reduce stress, helping you stay active, independent, and energized at any age.

As a Master Instructor, Medical Qigong Healing Practice Leader, and Master Low Impact Aerobics (Walk15) Instructor, Dr. LoPresti offers a safe, effective, and welcoming approach to fitness for all levels.

Now welcoming students at her new Cutchogue location on the North Fork. Join a program that is more than exercise, it’s a path to better health, vitality, and well-being. Inquire via email at [email protected]*

Facebook | Instagram

 ^{_{*Indicates sponsored advertising content}}

Live Music + Fun Breakdown

Monday

The Watershed | Erin Chase | 6-9 PM
Ram’s Head | Bingo | 6 PM

Tuesday

Eastern Front Brewing | Trivia with Emily | 6 PM
First & South | Julia King | 6-9 PM
Front Street Station | Music Bingo | 7 PM

Was this email forwarded to you? Sign Up

Interested in sponsoring The Buzz? Let’s Talk

Want your business’s event in the newsletter? Send us the Info!

Did we miss something? Let us know at [email protected] 

THANKS!

Thanks for reading the North Fork Buzz today. Like what you read? Send it to a friend!

Tom Loncar- Publisher
Nicole Loncar- Editor + Partnerships